Online store infoWiki While You Work: An Introduction to Wikis in Education

Originally developed by Mark Wagner, Ph.D., President & CEO, EdTechTeam, Inc.

Welcome

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Welcome and Introductions

Welcome Activity

Read-only Web v. Read/Write Web

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The Read-Only Web

• Powerful resource for educators and students, but…
• Information moves from publishers to consumers
• Information cannot be edited
• The One-Way Web (Web 1.0)

The Read/Write Web

• It is now as easy to create as it is to consume
• Anyone can publish, share, and change information
• Two-Way Web (Web 2.0)
• This is changing our world!

Wikis

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Wikis

• A wiki is a website that anyone can edit.
• If you can use a word processor, you can use a wiki!
• Visitors can see a history of changes and revert to earlier versions.
• Visitors can discuss the page in a threaded forum.

Wikipedia

• Online encyclopedia
• Collaboratively authored and edited
• Over 1 million users worldwide
• Over 1 million articles in English
• Great resource, but…
• Use with caution

Educational Wikis

• Collaboratively authored class texts
• Writing projects
• Group projects
• Sharing resources
• Grade level teams
• Subject area teams
• Professional development
• Professional Learning Communities (PLC)
• ePortfolios
• Clubs, PTAs, and events
• Mapping of concepts, brainstorming
• Presentation tools

Activity 1: Evaluate Educational Wikis (and participate in a wiki discussion)

Getting Started with Wikispaces

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Activity 2: Edit a Wiki Page

Activity 3: Create Your Own Wiki with Wikispaces.com (a walkthrough)

• Wikispaces for Teachers: http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers/
• Create an Account (if you haven't already)
• Create a Wiki
  • Edit This Page: Text, Numbers & Bullets, Links, Images, Embedding, Tables, and More...
  • Wiki Text
  • Discussion
  • History
  • Notifications
  • Create a New Page
  • Edit Navigation
  • Manage Wiki (just the highlights... )
• My Account (again, just the highlights... )
• Create more wikis!
  Note: Wikispaces help may also be helpful, but can be out-of-date compared to the latest version of the service. This workshop wiki may be out of date soon, as well. Your best technical support is to play with Wikispaces.

Embedding Content and Integrating With Other Tools

• Images and Files(Review)
  • While editing a page, place your cursor where you want the image to appear.
  • Then click the Files icon (which looks like a picture in a frame).
  • Select the file you want to insert, upload it, and then double-click the thumbnail of the image (or file) to make it appear on the page.
• Embed Other Media(Review)
  • While editing a page, place your cursor where you want the media to appear.
  • Then click on the Widget icon (which looks like a TV).
  • Navigate to the type of media you want to embed (for specific instructions), or else choose Other.
  • Paste in the embed code provided by the service you are trying to embed, and then click Save.
• Embedding Specific Media (Demonstrations)
  • Video (Using YouTube or TeacherTube... or others)
  • Calendars (Using Google Calendar)
  • Documents (Using Google Docs)
  • Forms (Using Google Docs)
  Note: Wikispaces help may also be helpful, but can be out-of-date compared to the latest version of the service. This workshop wiki may be out of date soon, as well. Your best technical support is to play with Wikispaces.

More Tips and Tricks (time permitting)

• Image Alignment: While editing the page, click on the image and select an alignment from the dropdown menu (try left or right alignment). Or try using a table to arrange your pictures (see below).
• Images as Links: While editing the page, click on the image and then click on the Link icon.
• Tables: While editing the page, click on the Table icon and select the number of rows and columns. Then click in an individual cell to add text, images, or other content. The table will automatically resize and remain well-aligned.
• Permissions By Page: While viewing a page, click on the Page dropdown menu (the little triangle) and select Lock or Unlock.
• Tags: While viewing a page, click on the Page dropdown menu (the little triangle) and select Details and Tags. Then click Edit next to tags. Now you can click on a tag to see all pages with that tag, or you can search by tag in the search field (usually in the left-hand column).
• Remove Ads: Go to Manage Wiki, then Subscription, and Request a complimentary upgrade to Plus for K-12 education at the bottom of the page.
  Note: Wikispaces help may also be helpful, but can be out-of-date compared to the latest version of the service. This workshop wiki may be out of date soon, as well. Your best technical support is to play with Wikispaces.

More Cool Features (time permitting)

• Templates: Create time saving templates! (Useful for creating many similar student or group pages.)
• Domain Name (Change your URL to something better, shorter, or more meaningful.)
• Wiki Info (Change the title and description of your wiki to something better... and select an appropriate license.)
• Badges (Get the word out — promote your wiki.)
• Exports (Back up your wiki!)

Wrap-up and Q&A

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Benefits

• Engagement and motivation
• Context-embedded learning
• Inquiry-driven learning
• Collaborative learning
• Reflection and metacognition
• 21st-century skills

Concerns

• Information literacy
• Inappropriate content
• Inappropriate sharing
• Threats and cyber-bullying
• Intellectual property
• Fraud and identity theft
• Stalkers and predators
• Lack of understanding

Proactive Strategies (if necessary)

Reflection Activity

Activity 4: Share Your Own Wiki (May be completed after the workshop)